Question 1

Joey has had problems with alcohol throughout his life.He has a hard time saying "no" to risky situations and likes doing things that other people think are dangerous.He is easily bored and has been known to get into fights with other people just for fun.It is likely that Joey has:

Accepted Answer

Joey's behavior indicates externalizing tendencies, which involve acting out and engaging in risky or dangerous behavior without regard for consequences or the impact on others. This is consistent with problematic alcohol use and a pattern of getting into fights for fun. Axis III refers to medical conditions that contribute to psychological symptoms, which is not indicated in this scenario. Attention deficit disorder and Axis V (Global Assessment of Functioning) are also not relevant to this situation.

Question 2

Robin has had disruptive behavior problems since childhood,has shown signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder,and could be characterized as having "externalizing" tendencies.According to your textbook,Robin is probably:

Accepted Answer

The textbook suggests that males are more likely to exhibit externalizing behaviors, such as disruptive behavior problems and ADHD symptoms. Therefore, based on the information given about Robin, it is likely that Robin is male. The other options (A, B, D) cannot be determined based on the information given.

Question 3

From what you know about internalizing and externalizing disorders,you would expect anxiety disorders to be higher in _____ and drug problems to be higher in _____.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that anxiety disorders are more prevalent among females and externalizing disorders, such as drug problems, are more common among males.

Question 4

If a particular disorder shows itself in similar ways in different cultures around the world,one would be correct to suspect that that disorder is based in:

Accepted Answer

If a disorder manifests itself in similar ways across different cultures, it is likely to have a biological basis rather than being solely attributed to cultural or environmental factors. Biological factors are intrinsic to human beings whereas cultural and environmental factors can vary across different societies and regions.

Question 5

Biological factors play a role in mental disorders.Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence provided in your textbook to support this idea?

Accepted Answer

Fraternal twins having a higher likelihood of sharing mental disorders compared to unrelated strangers suggests a genetic or biological component, not a lack of evidence for biological factors.

Question 6

Dr.Jahoda sees his patients' problems as a result of distorted beliefs based on prior learning experiences.Dr.Jahoda is most clearly a:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jahoda's view that problems arise from distorted beliefs based on prior learning experiences aligns with the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, making him a cognitive-behavioralist.

Question 7

Which of the following actions is the best example of an anxiety response rather than a fear response,as defined in your textbook?

Accepted Answer

A fear response is typically a quick, automatic response to an immediate threat, such as jumping out of the way of an oncoming car. Anxiety, on the other hand, involves worry and apprehension about potential future events or situations, as seen in the example of worrying about not graduating from college and becoming homeless. Thinking about strategies to avoid walking alone in a dangerous neighborhood could also be an example of anxiety, but it is not as clearly focused on future possibilities as worrying about graduation and homelessness. Crying after receiving news about cancer may be a response to the immediate threat of the illness, but it could also be a mix of fear and anxiety.

Question 8

Schizophrenia is found more often among poorer people.This phenomenon is evidence that _____ factors are important in mental disorders.

Accepted Answer

The fact that schizophrenia is more prevalent among poorer people suggests that sociocultural factors, such as poverty, may play a role in the development of mental disorders. This also implies that biological and evolutionary factors alone cannot fully explain the occurrence of mental illnesses. While cognitive factors may be relevant in some cases, they do not explain the broader social patterns observed in the distribution of mental disorders.

Question 9

In the current understanding of psychological disorders,_____ is thought to be a normal response to stress,but is problematic when it is _____.

Accepted Answer

Anxiety is a normal response to stress, but when it is experienced excessively or in the absence of a true threat, it becomes problematic and can be classified as a psychological disorder. The other options, such as depression and social phobia, may also be classified as psychological disorders but they do not have the same direct association with stress as anxiety does. Therefore, C is the best choice.

Question 10

The central characteristic of anxiety disorders is:

Accepted Answer

The central characteristic of anxiety disorders is a persistent feeling of excessive anxiety or worry in situations where there is no real threat or danger. This disproportionate level of anxiety can interfere with daily life and be difficult to control.

Question 11

Alan entered therapy because he was becoming very depressed.Alan's psychotherapist suggested that Alan write down his thoughts each day and analyze these thoughts for irrational assumptions and unrealistic expectations that might contribute to his depressed mood.The goal was to identify distorted thoughts that were contributing to maladaptive emotions.This psychotherapist is using a _____ perspective to help Alan.

Accepted Answer

The psychotherapist is suggesting a cognitive-behavioral approach, which involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to maladaptive emotions. This approach focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors to improve mental health.

Question 12

Which of the following is a psychological factor that could possibly influence the development of a psychological disorder?

Accepted Answer

Thoughts and emotions play a key role in the development of psychological disorders, as they can contribute to maladaptive coping strategies and behaviors. For example, negative thought patterns and beliefs can contribute to the development of depression and anxiety disorders. Maternal illness and neurological dysfunction may also play a role in some cases, but they are not as directly linked to psychological factors as thoughts and emotions. Malnutrition may have physical and cognitive consequences, but it is not necessarily a psychological factor in and of itself.

Question 13

Research suggests that _____ is involved in the expression of many mental disorders.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that neurological dysfunction is involved in the expression of many mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder. Studies have shown differences in brain structure, activity, and neurotransmitter function in individuals with these disorders compared to healthy individuals. Peripheral nervous system pathology, underactive autonomic nervous system, and weak sympathetic nervous system have not been found to be consistently involved in the expression of mental disorders.

Question 14

Which of the following perspectives suggests that psychopathology results from interaction between the individual and the culture?

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural model suggests that psychopathology results from the interaction between the individual and the culture. This model considers the cultural context in which the individual lives, including the shared beliefs, values, and practices of the community. It recognizes that culture can influence the expression, interpretation, and treatment of mental health problems.

Question 15

Dr.Jahangir is seeing a depressed patient who is currently undergoing a relationship breakup.Dr.Jahangir also knows that as a child this patient suffered from both neglect and abuse.Dr.Jahangir believes that the patient's difficult childhood has predisposed her to overreact to life circumstances,such as the recent breakup,resulting in the patient's severely depressed state.Dr.Jahangir's perspective on the patient's problems is based on which of the following models?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jahangir's perspective is based on the diathesis-stress model, which suggests that certain individuals have a genetic or environmental vulnerability (diathesis) that can lead to mental health problems when triggered by stressful life events (stress). In this case, the patient's difficult childhood (diathesis) predisposed her to overreact to the breakup (stress), resulting in severe depression.

Question 16

Psychologists who argue for the importance of biological factors in mental disorders use all of the following kinds of evidence to support this approach EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Altering genes in humans is not a common or ethical method used to study biological factors in mental disorders.

Question 17

According to the diathesis-stress model,which of the following people is most likely to become depressed?

Accepted Answer

According to the diathesis-stress model, individuals who have experienced childhood abuse or trauma are more vulnerable to developing depression when faced with stressors later in life. Therefore, Janice, who experienced abuse as a child and recently lost her job, is the most likely to become depressed.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is accurate regarding biological factors in the development of mental disorders?

Accepted Answer

Maternal malnutrition, ingestion of toxins, or other prenatal factors can have a significant impact on the development of mental disorders in offspring. Studies have also shown that genetic factors are at play and may increase the risk of developing certain mental disorders. However, it is important to note that mental disorders are complex and likely involve a combination of genetic, environmental, and other factors.

Question 19

Psychologists have noted that some forms of mental disorders are more common among lower socioeconomic groups.Which model of mental illness is best able to account for this observation?

Accepted Answer

The sociocultural model acknowledges that social and cultural factors, such as socioeconomic status, can contribute to the development of mental disorders. This model emphasizes the importance of considering the larger societal context when examining mental health.

Question 20

A central assumption of the cognitive-behavioral model of mental disorders is that:

Accepted Answer

The cognitive-behavioral model emphasizes the importance of learning in the development of mental disorders, suggesting that maladaptive thoughts and behaviors can be unlearned and replaced with more adaptive ones through therapy. It does not focus on cultural mediation or unconscious conflicts as primary causes of mental illness. While family context may be a relevant factor, it is not considered the most important in this model.

Quiz 14: Psychological Disorders